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It was the scariest time of his life. During the fall of 2016, Gerry Pendon was a mere five meters away from a blast at the Roxas evening bazaar in Davao City. The Islamic State strike left 15 dead, including his wife's brother. A lengthy conflict between the armed forces and the jihadist group in Marawi City followed.

“It cannot take place again in Davao,” Pendon asserts.

Years later, the specter of IS again looms over one of the nation's major cities, amidst worldwide focus over the 28-day stay in the city of the accused Bondi beach shooters, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed.

Pendon, who is a a massage therapist at the night market, saw news of the Bondi incident on the television, but similar to other locals surveyed, felt mostly disconnected.

The 2016 attack is a bad memory he is working to forget. A memorial for the 2016 deaths is placed in a section of the night market, looking mismatched against the celebratory environment as many people came there for meals, massages and goods.

Ongoing Inquiries Amid Holiday Preparations

Examinations of the time in the Philippines of the father and son comes as the mostly Catholic country is getting ready for Christmas. Davao’s government center has been decorated with a tall Christmas tree, malls are crowded, and children knock on doors to perform Christmas songs.

“I was surprised to see [the Akrams] in the news. But they were here for sightseeing, not extremism,” says Emelyn Lorenzo, also a massage therapist at the market. Authorities have made clear the probe into their actions is continuing and the exact reason for their trip is remains uncertain.

“It is unfortunate that legitimate grievances are exploited by radicalism. Regrettably, the story of brutal violence was wrongly attached to the region's image,” said Karlos Manlupig, leader of advocacy group Balay Mindanao.

Trust in Safety Legacy

Lorenzo is furthermore confident that no one could execute another terrorist strike in the city for a long time administered by the family of former president Rodrigo Duterte, whose name – both notable and infamous – was built on tightly securing Davao through strict anti-crime and anti-drug campaigns. At one entrance of the night market, at minimum four officers stand checking bags.

The Philippine government has pushed back against suggestions that it was a terrorist training ground for the suspected Bondi shooters. The country has a complicated background of instability and marginalization that has seen some Islamic independence movements establish links with international jihadist groups. But while IS-linked groups still exist, authorities say they are limited in size and diminished.

Investigators Piece Together Movements

What is certain, said Eduardo Año, the Philippines’ national security adviser, is the two stayed within the city nor obtained weapons training in the country, as was previously alleged.

Law enforcement have said they are “not taking lightly” the duo's presence in the country as they map out the activities of the father and son during their month-long stay in Davao City.

Authorities say there are several places the two could have frequented or connected with associates in the area. Many of establishments sit between the hotel where they stayed and a nearby restaurant, where they were reported to buy their food.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage and tracking transport records to piece together their movements, and that any potential lead are being explored.

Concerns in Marawi City Over Stigma

In Marawi, the site of a major conflict with extremist groups in 2017, residents are anxious that fresh accusations of extremism could lead to heightened securitisation and deepen bias against Muslims.

Tirmizy Abdullah, a faculty member at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City, said the Philippine intelligence community must find out what transpired.

“[The Akrams’] visit should be properly investigated and the information should provide transparent and factual answers without turning uncertainty into finger-pointing against Mindanao or its people,” Andullah said.

Manlupig lauded local initiatives in strengthening the peace and order in Davao City but he said “it is not true that terrorism magically vanished”. He said the country must confront root causes and political factors that drive the reasons behind the unrest while “continue pushing for acceptance and prevent discrimination and sectarianism”.